I have no idea how much it would cost to build that coop, retail price is terribly high for that tiny coop! Try looking in Bargain Hunter/ Penny Saver type newspapers or the like. Sometimes they have used sheds, or large rabbit cages, cheap. WIth a few adjustments they make nice coops. Or, check out CraigsList in your area.

I love bantams, but, need to have a lot of eggs, big eggs. I supply all the eggs for my parents, sisters, and occasionally give to my wonderful neighbors. Once a week I give a dozen eggs to the food bank too. So, small eggs layers don't have a place here. We only got the Silkie as a broody but so far, at a year old, she has never gone broody. She is the lone non working yard decoration.

I have a quad of them. I love them. I also have 2 pr of Black mottled D'Uccles and the roo's are super friendly. The follow me in the yard and if I sit down they jump up on the table next to my shoulder

I love the chickens but am not fond of feathered feet. To much rain here in the Great Northwest for feather footed fowl. However I am very fond of the birds, they are beautiful...Hay

Personally I think the price of the coop is disgusting. there is probably a hundred fifty dollars in materials, and a maximum of four - five hours in labor. (Time) No

that is just disgusting...Hay

I am building a six foot high X eight foot long, nine compartment condo for a customer for $350.00. That price is out rageous...Nothing wrong in making a dollar but taking advantage is not ok with me...

Good for you, Melva!
Northhaven gardens had a coop just like that for sale. I don't remember how much, but you might be able to get a closer look as to how it's made. Call first and see if they still have them, it's been awhile since I've been there.

Melvatoo, if you have a design in mind for your coop just draw out the dimentions. Most stores like Lowes will pre-cut the wood for you within a couple days. All you will need is a hammer and nail to put it together together and the hardward cloth.
That is what I did for the chickie pen - and I made the height the same as the roll of wire cloth so I wouldn't have to cut the wire. Yes, my neighbor helped me but it was worth paying him a few bucks. If I need one in the future I'll take the measurements to Lowes and have them the pre-cut wood. A pen or coop that is functional is WAY less costly than the "cute" ones.
I just saw a cutie coop, 4 x 8, that was painted BRIGHT pink, it was $2,800. So not worth it!

I had a pair of Millies... What are you looking for as far as your reason for having them? Eggs? Mine didn't produce that much, banty eggs are going to be small. It seems they are mostly for looks.. They were handled daily and never did really "warm up" as far as being friendly. Fun, but I never got any more of them once they were gone.
The friendliest bird I ever had was a bantam Cochin.. Lil bowling ball with feet.. Came running to meet me every day. Loved her!

Why thank you, Hay...what a nice thing to say...my birthday is coming up, hope to get some $ to at least start getting materials for a coop. I need to find some plans for the coop that I posted..I like the design of that one. However we have a pen that was built as a turtle pen (he escaped or was taken...anyway he is gone) it is an area approx. 8 by 12...it was built more in line of keeping things in, and not keeping things out, there is re-bar every few inches on 3 walls and the 4th one is the wall of the garage. It might be easier to somehow enclose the pen to make a coop..I plan to just have a few hens maybe as many as 6...

Melvatoo, have you looked at the thread by ZZ's (my best coop) she has posted pic's of two coops that are very simple and would be perfect for six - eight chicks. I hope you can get the supplies and have the coop you want. I really do like building them, it's just a lot of fun...Hay P.S. ZZ's said she would send the plans to anyone requesting them...

Mr.Peppers had become a bit ill tempered over the winter months in his condo i had built for him ,as i have yet to get him any gals to share it with yet either . but i did let him out on every good day there was . his spur's are almost 4 inches long now and i guess i need to trim them and his nails since spring has sprung .

I found your Roo taming technique on the other thread and have started with that here in the last few days . he is doing Much better !

i do agree with you on the price of the coops they are extreme while me and my crew built ours out of stuff we gathered up and salvaged the cost of hardware was not bad at all we did help a few others build theirs and it was fun to do so .

I hope the plans work out for you Melvatoo.. Really, it's not that expensive, and if you have bantams, it's perfect. It took me a while to build the second one cause I didn't have enough $ then either.. since this design is to build the walls first, I built a couple of walls.. then finished it after payday came. :) I used 1x4 trim boards.. Not the ones in the plans..

The biggest thing I love about it is that you can get inside and catch, doctor, or just sit and watch them, even in the rain... :) You can also store meds, feed additives, etc. above the coop part..

he has come a long way from the skinny lil Roo that showed up a year ago. he has filled out very nicely both in body and feathers with the weather turning good now i will be giving him some much needed attention and bathing and trimming them spur's & toe nails (safety first you know).

he so loves being outside too, so the feathers around his feet have to be cleaned up and trimmed & shaped so he can walk proper. the winter months were a bit harsh here .

I am just happy the warm weather is finally here so we can get so many things done that need to be done .

Howdy Sarge, Mr. Peepers is indeed a very handsome gent. I'm very pleased to hear the method is working for you. I know sometimes it has to be applied a couple two or three times for them to catch on, but the effort is worth it. I hope you have a very successful and happy summer with you feathered friends and family Sarge...Hay

Happy Happy Melva!!! I raise cochins and Seramas love em both! ...and after my trip to TSC this week , it looks as if Im also going to raise Sultan and Polish banties! and the jury is still out on a couple of them...hoping for D'uccles.

I occurs to me that it may seem I am enouraging Melva to flount The Law. That, of course, would NEVER be the case. And Melva would NEVER consider doing so. Please take this as a simply amusing, ridiculous suggestion...

Melva, you just need to work outside the box:). You're not alone, and people have addressed the issues. Two parts to this. First, the coop...

Codes can be really really really stupid. We used to live where, if you interpreted the zoning codes very conservatively, you had to have 10 acres in order to have a chicken. No, really. But you could have only 5 acres and keep a horse.

Go figure.

Best wishes for getting the zoning changed! There are certainly enough precedents out there that it should be possible.

Oh no, Melva. I feared that. It seems when the faming communities around Dallas tired to grow and become more like the big city, they outlawed livestock. Which is goofy considering its always been allowed in DFW.

Best of luck to your movement. I bet you'll get it passed, there is a real back to the land movement. Power to the people, power to the land, power to the chicken!!!

Good point, Porkpal. Of course, horses meant you had money. No community would turn 'those' people away.lol It seems in the last 50 years, to have chickens in your backyard, put you with the likes of poor and or immigrants.
They were met with such distain, you got to wonder if they are scratching their heads and chuckling at all the cute coops going up in affluent neighborhoods.lol

Cocoa lulu, I just love your attitude, and your humor. P. S. The little gal in the picture of City Chicken link is a friend of ours from Battleground Wa. She has a great website and is well liked...Hay

Where is a good place to buy chicks? I want some that are good for eating, good for eggs...no solid white ones (don't laugh!! When I get my chickens, I want "pretty" ones as well!! ) Then there is the matter of Cornish hens that we really like in the freezer! I have read you need a Cornish Rock rooster and a game hen for those???
How about ducks? A breed that is good for eggs, meat...and also not just white??? In your garden? How much will they tear up in there??
Deb

my yard ducks go through all the bushes and plants but haven't messed anything up. Hubbie hasn't tilled my wildflower bed yet but we are going to put a short fence around it. They love to root through dirt and to have a huge fresh bed of tilled dirt they would be in hog heaven lol